Education

UNI educational leadership assistant professor Matt Townsley

5 questions with UNI professor Matt Townsley

UNI professor Matt Townsley wants to see an education revolution. In his upcoming book “Making Grades Matter,” co-written with Nathan Wear, the UNI educational leadership assistant professor lays out the path for middle and high schools to abandon traditional letter grades in favor of a standards-based grading model. In this conversation, he outlines his case for why schools should rethink the way they think about grades and learning.
UNI student Caleb Christine works in the Industrial Technology Center.

It's never too late to pursue a dream

These days, Caleb Christine has a lot of time to think. Mostly because he spends a lot of time in his car. He has time to look back and peer ahead, to reflect on his time as a soldier, a police officer, a truck driver and a college drop-out. It’s his time to take stock of the many decisions that led him, at 38 years old with a wife and three kids, to enroll at the University of Northern Iowa and pursue a new career as an industrial technology teacher.
Former First Lady Laura Bush speaks at UNI.

Former First Lady Laura Bush addresses the importance of education at UNI lecture series

Former First Lady of the United States Mrs. Laura Bush addressed the importance of education as well as tackling the challenges facing future generations before a full crowd at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center Wednesday evening as part of the University of Northern Iowa's Joy Cole Corning Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series.
A UNI student teaches in the classroom.

UNI and AASCU lead national effort on educator preparation

In September, the UNI and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), a leading national higher education association based in Washington, D.C., released a comprehensive policy framework to revitalize the federal government’s role in educator preparation. The UNI-AASCU collaboration has been named the Project to Revitalize the Educator Preparation in America, or PREP America, in recognition of the need to develop new, meaningful solutions to longstanding challenges confronting…
UNI students instruct elementary students in literacy.

UNI program equips students with skills to tackle literacy issues

UNI students are again heading into local classrooms to help instruct students struggling with literacy. The class s a unique combination of university lectures, hands-on experience and community service.